Pull Handle Assembly Having a Safety Protection Function to Prevent a User&#39;s Fingers from being Clipped

ABSTRACT

A pull handle assembly includes an outer handle having two outer shanks each provided with at least one locking hole, a positioning hole and a limit hole located between the locking hole and the positioning hole, an inner handle having two inner shanks each having a lower end provided with a locking bore and a through bore, and two locking mechanisms each mounted on a respective inner shank. Thus, when each of the locking mechanisms is releasably locked by the limit hole of the respective outer shank, a finger space is defined between the inner handle and the outer handle to receive a user&#39;s fingers to so as to prevent the user&#39;s fingers from being clipped and hurt due to a rapid lowering action of the inner handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pull handle assembly and, more particularly, to a retractable pull handle assembly for a luggage.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional retractable pull handle assembly for a luggage in accordance with the prior art shown in FIGS. 7-10 comprises an outer handle 10 having two outer shanks 101 each having an upper end provided with at least one locking hole 102 and a lower end provided with a positioning hole 103, an inner handle 11 movably mounted on the outer handle 10 and having two inner shanks 110 each movable in a respective outer shank 101 of the outer handle 10 and each having a lower end provided with a locking bore 113, and two locking mechanisms 12 each mounted on the lower end of a respective inner shank 110 of the inner handle 11 to move therewith and each movable between a first position where each of the two locking mechanisms 12 is releasably locked by the at least one locking hole 102 of a respective outer shank 101 of the outer handle 2 and a second position where each of the two locking mechanisms 12 is releasably locked by the positioning hole 103 of the respective outer shank 101 of the outer handle 2. Each of the two locking mechanisms 12 includes a housing 121 having a side provided with a hole 1210, a cover 120 combined with the housing 121, a slide 122 movable between the housing 121 and the cover 120 and having a top provided with a tapered driven face 127, a locking rod 128 mounted on a first side of the slide 122, extending through the hole 1210 of the housing 121 and the locking bore 113 of the respective inner shank 110 of the inner handle 11 and releasably locked in the at least one locking hole 102 or the positioning hole 103 of the respective outer shank 101 of the outer handle 2, a first spring 123 biased between the cover 120 and a second side of the slide 122 to push the locking rod 128 toward the hole 1210 of the housing 41, a substantially L-shaped push member 125 movably mounted between the housing 121 and the cover 120 and having a first portion provided with a tapered drive face 126 abutting the tapered driven face 127 of the slide 122 and a second portion protruding outwardly from the housing 121 and the cover 40, and a second spring 124 mounted on the second portion of the push member 125 and biased between the second portion of the push member 125 and the housing 121 and the cover 120 to push the push member 125 upward and to detach the tapered drive face 126 of the push member 125 from the tapered driven face 127 of the slide 122. The pull handle assembly further comprises a press switch 111 movably mounted on the top of the inner handle 11, and two links 112 each movable in a respective inner shank 110 of the inner handle 11 and each having an upper end driven by the press switch 111 and a lower end provided with a press portion 114 that is movable to press the second portion of the push member 125 to push the push member 125 downward and to move the tapered drive face 126 of the push member 125 toward the tapered driven face 127 of the slide 122.

In operation, when the press switch 111 is pressed, each of the two links 112 is moved downward to move the press portion 114 that is movable to press the second portion of the push member 125 to push the push member 125 downward which moves the tapered drive face 126 to press the tapered driven face 127 of the slide 42, so that the slide 122 of each of the two locking mechanisms 12 is driven to move toward the cover 120 and space from the housing 41, and the locking rod 128 of each of the two locking mechanisms 12 is driven to detach from the at least one locking hole 102 of the respective outer shank 101 of the outer handle 10 so as to unlock the respective inner shank 110 of the inner handle 11 from the respective outer shank 101 of the outer handle 10, thereby unlocking the inner handle 11 from the outer handle 10. Thus, the inner handle 11 is movable relative to the outer handle 10 freely, and each of the two locking mechanisms 12 is movable with the inner handle 3.

However, when the inner handle 11 is moved too quickly to touch the outer handle 10, a user's fingers are located between the inner handle 11 and the outer handle 10 as shown in FIG. 10, so that user's fingers are easily clipped and hurt.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pull handle assembly having a safety protection function to prevent a user's fingers from being clipped.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a pull handle assembly, wherein when the inner handle is moved downward rapidly, the inner handle is locked instantly before the inner handle touches the outer handle, so that the finger space defined between the top of the inner handle and the top of the outer handle is large enough to receive the user's fingers to prevent the user's fingers from being clipped and hurt due to a rapid lowering action of the inner handle.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a pull handle assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a locking mechanism of the pull handle assembly as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the a locking mechanism of the pull handle assembly as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partially front cross-sectional assembly view of the pull handle assembly as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the pull handle assembly as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side operational view of the pull handle assembly as shown in FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded perspective view of a conventional pull handle assembly in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a locking mechanism of the conventional pull handle assembly as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partially front cross-sectional assembly view of the conventional pull handle assembly as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side operational view of the conventional pull handle assembly as shown in FIG. 7 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a pull handle assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an outer handle 2 having two outer shanks 20 each having an upper end provided with at least one locking hole 201, a lower end provided with a positioning hole 202 and a mediate portion provided with a limit hole 203 located between the at least one locking hole 201 and the positioning hole 202, an inner handle 3 movably mounted on the outer handle 2 and having two inner shanks 30 each movable in a respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2 and each having a lower end provided with a locking bore 301 and a through bore 302, and two locking mechanisms 4 each mounted on the lower end of a respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 to move therewith and each movable between a first position where each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is releasably locked by the at least one locking hole 201 of a respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, a second position where each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is releasably locked by the limit hole 203 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, and a finger space 5 (see FIG. 6) is defined between a top 33 of the inner handle 3 and a top 23 of the outer handle 2 to receive a user's fingers to prevent the user's fingers from being clipped and hurt, and a third position where each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is releasably locked by the positioning hole 202 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2.

The at least one locking hole 201 and the positioning hole 202 of each of the two outer shanks 20 of the outer handle 2 are in line with each other, and the limit hole 203 of each of the two outer shanks 20 of the outer handle 2 is located opposite to the at least one locking hole 201 and the positioning hole 202. The limit hole 203 of each of the two outer shanks 20 of the outer handle 2 has an elongate shape.

The locking bore 301 of each of the two inner shanks 30 of the inner handle 3 is in line with the at least one locking hole 201 and the positioning hole 202 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, and the through bore 302 is located opposite to the locking bore 301 and is in line with the limit hole 203 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2.

Each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is received in the lower end of the respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 and is movable in the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2.

Each of the two locking mechanisms 4 includes a housing 41 having a side provided with a hole 410, a cover 40 combined with the housing 41 and having a side provided with a bore 401, a slide 42 movable horizontally between the housing 41 and the cover 40 and having a top provided with a tapered driven face 424, a locking rod 422 mounted on a first side of the slide 42, extending through the hole 410 of the housing 41 and the locking bore 301 of the respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 and releasably locked in the at least one locking hole 201 or the positioning hole 202 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, a locking bar 421 mounted on a second side of the slide 42 and movable to extend through the bore 401 of the cover 40 and the through bore 302 of the respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 into the limit hole 203 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, a first spring 43 mounted on the locking bar 421 and biased between the cover 40 and the slide 42 to push the locking bar 421 to space from the bore 401 of the cover 40 and to push the locking rod 422 toward the hole 410 of the housing 41, a push member 45 movably mounted between the housing 41 and the cover 40 and having a first portion 452 movable vertically in the housing 41 and the cover 40 and provided with a tapered drive face 451 abutting the tapered driven face 424 of the slide 42, and a second portion 450 protruding outwardly from the housing 41 and the cover 40, a fixing pin 46 mounted on the second portion 450 of the push member 45, and a second spring 44 mounted on the second portion 450 of the push member 45 and biased between the fixing pin 46 and the housing 41 and the cover 40 to push the push member 45 upward and to detach the tapered drive face 451 of the push member 45 from the tapered driven face 424 of the slide 42.

The housing 41 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape and has an inside provided with a chamber 411 connected to the hole 410 to receive the slide 42, the push member 45 and the first spring 43. The housing 41 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 has a lower end provided with a protruding horizontal support plate 413 which has a fixing hole 414 and an upper end provided with two spaced inserts 412.

The cover 40 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape and has an inside provided with a space 402 connected to the bore 401 to receive the slide 42, the push member 45 and the first spring 43. The cover 40 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 has a lower end provided with a protruding vertical fixing flange 403 snapped into the fixing hole 414 of the support plate 413 and an upper end provided with two spaced recesses 404 to allow insertion of the inserts 412 of the housing 41. Thus, the housing 41 and the cover 40 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 are combined together by combination of the fixing flange 403 of the cover 40 and the fixing hole 414 of the support plate 413 and by combination of the inserts 412 of the housing 41 and the recesses 404 of the cover 40.

The second side of the slide 42 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is provided with an annular groove 423 surrounding the locking bar 421 for mounting the first spring 43. The top of the slide 42 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is provided with a substantially triangular protruding block 425 which defines the tapered driven face 424.

The locking bar 421 and the locking rod 422 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 are co-axial with each other and are directed toward two opposite directions.

The push member 45 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is located above the slide 42. The push member 45 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 has a substantially L-shaped profile, with the first portion 452 being disposed at a horizontal state, and the second portion 450 being disposed at a vertical state.

The pull handle assembly further comprises a press switch 31 movably mounted on the top 33 of the inner handle 3, and two links 32 each movable in a respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 and each having an upper end driven by the press switch 31 and a lower end provided with a press portion 320 that is movable to press the second portion 450 of the push member 45 to push the push member 45 downward and to move the tapered drive face 451 of the push member 45 toward the tapered driven face 424 of the slide 42.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inner handle 3 is pulled outwardly from the outer handle 2 to expand the pull handle assembly. At this time, the first spring 43 pushes the locking rod 422 toward the hole 410 of the housing 41, so that the locking rod 422 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is pushed by the first spring 43 to extend through the hole 410 of the housing 41 and the locking bore 301 of the respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 and is releasably locked in the at least one locking hole 201 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2 so as to lock the respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 onto the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, thereby locking the inner handle 3 onto the outer handle 2.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 with reference to FIGS. 1-4, when the press switch 31 is pressed, each of the two links 32 is moved downward to move the press portion 320 that is movable to press the second portion 450 of the push member 45 to push the push member 45 downward and to move the tapered drive face 451 of the push member 45 to press the tapered driven face 424 of the slide 42, so that the slide 42 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is driven to move toward the cover 40 and space from the housing 41, and the locking rod 422 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is driven to detach from the at least one locking hole 201 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2 so as to unlock the respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 from the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, thereby unlocking the inner handle 3 from the outer handle 2. Thus, the inner handle 3 is movable relative to the outer handle 2 freely, and each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is movable with the inner handle 3.

When each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is movable downward to a position where the locking bar 421 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 aligns with the limit hole 203 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, the press switch 31 is pressed successively, so that the slide 42 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is further driven to move toward the cover 40 to drive the locking bar 421 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 to extend through the bore 401 of the cover 40 and the through bore 302 of the respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 into the limit hole 203 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2 so as to lock the respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 onto the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, thereby locking the inner handle 3 onto the outer handle 2 to prevent the inner handle 3 from being moved downward. At this time, the finger space 5 (see FIG. 6) defined between the top 33 of the inner handle 3 and the top 23 of the outer handle 2 is large enough to receive a user's fingers to prevent the user's fingers from being clipped and hurt due to a rapid lowering action of the inner handle 3.

On the contrary, when the press switch 31 is released, the push member 45 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is returned to the original position by the restoring force of the second spring 44, and the slide 42 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is pushed by the restoring force of the first spring 43 to move toward the housing 41 and space from the cover 40, so that the locking bar 421 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is driven by the restoring force of the first spring 43 to detach from the limit hole 203 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, so as to unlock the respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 from the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, thereby unlocking the inner handle 3 from the outer handle 2. Thus, the inner handle 3 is movable relative to the outer handle 2 freely, and each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is movable with the inner handle 3.

When each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is movable downward to a position where the locking rod 422 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 aligns with the positioning hole 202 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, the locking rod 422 of each of the two locking mechanisms 4 is pushed by the restoring force of the first spring 43 and is locked in the positioning hole 202 of the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2 so as to lock the respective inner shank 30 of the inner handle 3 onto the respective outer shank 20 of the outer handle 2, thereby locking the inner handle 3 onto the outer handle 2 so as to fold the pull handle assembly.

Accordingly, when the press switch 31 is pressed successively by a user to move the inner handle 3 downward rapidly, the inner handle 3 is locked instantly before the inner handle 3 touches the outer handle 2, so that the finger space 5 defined between the top 33 of the inner handle 3 and the top 23 of the outer handle 2 is large enough to receive the user's fingers to prevent the user's fingers from being clipped and hurt due to a rapid lowering action of the inner handle 3.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention. 

1. A pull handle assembly, comprising: an outer handle having two outer shanks each having an upper end provided with at least one locking hole, a lower end provided with a positioning hole and a mediate portion provided with a limit hole located between the at least one locking hole and the positioning hole; an inner handle movably mounted on the outer handle and having two inner shanks each movable in a respective outer shank of the outer handle and each having a lower end provided with a locking bore and a through bore; two locking mechanisms each mounted on the lower end of a respective inner shank of the inner handle to move therewith and each movable between a first position where each of the two locking mechanisms is releasably locked by the at least one locking hole of a respective outer shank of the outer handle, a second position where each of the two locking mechanisms is releasably locked by the limit hole of the respective outer shank of the outer handle, and a finger space is defined between a top of the inner handle and a top of the outer handle, and a third position where each of the two locking mechanisms is releasably locked by the positioning hole of the respective outer shank of the outer handle.
 2. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two locking mechanisms includes a housing having a side provided with a hole; a cover combined with the housing and having a side provided with a bore; a slide movable horizontally between the housing and the cover and having a top provided with a tapered driven face; a locking rod mounted on a first side of the slide, extending through the hole of the housing and the locking bore of the respective inner shank of the inner handle and releasably locked in the at least one locking hole or the positioning hole of the respective outer shank of the outer handle; a locking bar mounted on a second side of the slide and movable to extend through the bore of the cover and the through bore of the respective inner shank of the inner handle into the limit hole of the respective outer shank of the outer handle; a push member movably mounted between the housing and the cover and having a first portion movable vertically in the housing and the cover and provided with a tapered drive face abutting the tapered driven face of the slide and a second portion protruding outwardly from the housing and the cover.
 3. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two locking mechanisms is received in the lower end of the respective inner shank of the inner handle and is movable in the respective outer shank of the outer handle.
 4. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the two locking mechanisms further includes a first spring mounted on the locking bar and biased between the cover and the slide to push the locking bar to space from the bore of the cover and to push the locking rod toward the hole of the housing.
 5. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein each of the two locking mechanisms further includes a fixing pin mounted on the second portion of the push member; a second spring mounted on the second portion of the push member and biased between the fixing pin and the housing and the cover to push the push member upward and to detach the tapered drive face of the push member from the tapered driven face of the slide.
 6. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the housing of each of the two locking mechanisms has an inside provided with a chamber connected to the hole to receive the slide, the push member and the first spring.
 7. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the cover of each of the two locking mechanisms has an inside provided with a space connected to the bore to receive the slide, the push member and the first spring.
 8. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein the second side of the slide of each of the two locking mechanisms is provided with an annular groove surrounding the locking bar for mounting the first spring.
 9. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the locking bar and the locking rod of each of the two locking mechanisms are co-axial with each other and are directed toward two opposite directions.
 10. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one locking hole and the positioning hole of each of the two outer shanks of the outer handle are in line with each other; the limit hole of each of the two outer shanks of the outer handle is located opposite to the at least one locking hole and the positioning hole.
 11. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the limit hole of each of the two outer shanks of the outer handle has an elongate shape.
 12. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking bore of each of the two inner shanks of the inner handle is in line with the at least one locking hole and the positioning hole of the respective outer shank of the outer handle; the through bore is located opposite to the locking bore and is in line with the limit hole of the respective outer shank of the outer handle.
 13. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a press switch movably mounted on the top of the inner handle; two links each movable in a respective inner shank of the inner handle and each having an upper end driven by the press switch and a lower end provided with a press portion that is movable to press the second portion of the push member to push the push member downward and to move the tapered drive face of the push member toward the tapered driven face of the slide.
 14. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of the two locking mechanisms is movable downward to a position where the locking bar of each of the two locking mechanisms aligns with the limit hole of the respective outer shank of the outer handle; the slide of each of the two locking mechanisms is driven by the push member to move toward the cover to drive the locking bar of each of the two locking mechanisms to extend through the bore of the cover and the through bore of the respective inner shank of the inner handle into the limit hole of the respective outer shank of the outer handle so as to lock the respective inner shank of the inner handle onto the respective outer shank of the outer handle, thereby locking the inner handle onto the outer handle.
 15. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein the finger space is defined between the top of the inner handle and the top of the outer handle when the locking bar of each of the two locking mechanisms is locked in the limit hole of the respective outer shank of the outer handle.
 16. The pull handle assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein the push member of each of the two locking mechanisms is returned to an original position by a restoring force of the second spring; the slide of each of the two locking mechanisms is pushed by a restoring force of the first spring to move toward the housing and space from the cover; the locking bar of each of the two locking mechanisms is driven by the restoring force of the first spring to detach from the limit hole of the respective outer shank of the outer handle, so as to unlock the respective inner shank of the inner handle from the respective outer shank of the outer handle, thereby unlocking the inner handle from the outer handle. 